New Mexico State University has selected Valerio Ferme as its next president.
In a special meeting Thursday, the NMSU Board of Regents voted unanimously to select Ferme as the university system’s next president. The move follows a national search and visits from four finalists last month.
Ferme most recently served as executive vice president for Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of Cincinnati, where he championed student success via numerous access and retention investments.
“To the presidential candidates, thank you for your interest in NMSU and for sharing your vision for our university’s future. Your participation has enriched this process immeasurably,” Regents Chair Ammu Devasthali said during the meeting. “To the NMSU community – our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends in Las Cruces, throughout New Mexico, and around the world – your engagement has been inspiring. The hundreds of feedback submissions we received following the faculty/staff, student, and community forums provided invaluable insights. Your voices are a big part of the success of this process.”
Interim President Mónica Torres will continue to serve in that role until Ferme can begin his new role at NMSU. His start date will be determined during contract negotiations that will be presented for the board’s approval at a future open meeting.
“I would like to add a very big thank you to Dr. Monica Torres for her leadership as interim president. We look forward to her continued leadership as we transition to our new administration,” Devasthali said. “To the members of the Presidential Search Committee, your tireless efforts and dedication have been the cornerstone of this endeavor. Your commitment to finding the best possible leader for NMSU is truly appreciated.
“Finally, a special thank you to my fellow members of the Board of Regents,” Devasthali continued. “Your dedication to this thorough and collaborative process has been extraordinary. We recognize the sacrifices you have made, taking time away from your professional lives and families for many months. Your commitment to finding the right leader for NMSU is a testament to your unwavering service to our university.
Ferme joined the University of Cincinnati in 2019 as dean of the college of Arts and Sciences. As dean, he spearheaded a commitment to research that increased sponsored awards from $10 million to more than $22 million annually, while expanding its pedagogy in the areas of experiential-based learning and co-operative education. Ferme was the first university dean to create a post of associate dean for Inclusive Excellence and Community Partnerships, which has since been adopted across the university.
Prior to UC, Ferme served as dean of the College of Arts and Letters at Northern Arizona University and divisional dean for the Arts and Humanities at the University of Colorado, where he taught for 19 years and served repeatedly as chair of the Department of French and Italian.
At NAU, Ferme increased underrepresented faculty hires and bolstered collaborations between students and organizations in the Flagstaff area, as well as with the Native people of Arizona’s high plains.
In Colorado, Ferme’s work focused on curricular enhancements and support for underrepresented minorities. In 2014, Ferme received the Boulder Faculty Assembly Excellence in Teaching Award and, in 2017, a Special Recognition Award from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement for his work in inclusive excellence.
Ferme earned undergraduate degrees in biology and religious studies at Brown University, Master’s Degrees in comparative literature and Italian studies from Indiana University, and a Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of California-Berkeley, where he was awarded Fulbright and Chancellor’s fellowships. As a scholar, Ferme has published three monographs, three edited volumes, two scholarly translations and a bilingual collection of poetry, in addition to over 60 articles and reviews.
